SHP's Operation Stop Arm concludes Friday

Published: Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 3:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 3:16 p.m.

Friday marks the last day of a five-day campaign conducted by N.C. Highway Patrol troopers in Davidson County aimed at aggressively enforcing stop arm and other traffic violations in and around school zones.

Monday served as the opening day of the annual Operation Stop Arm week. The purpose of the campaign is to decrease violations and reduce school bus collisions, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

And in Davidson County the campaign has been successful, said B.D. Stalvey, the first sergeant assigned to SHP's Lexington office. Stalvey reported late Thursday morning it was his understanding there have been no reported stop arm violations this week.

Though statewide stats regarding the passing of stopped school buses are concerning to Stalvey, the first sergeant attributed this week's lack of stop arm violations to motorists being more attentive coupled with the Highway Patrol's campaign. Referring to school buses, he said it's not hard for people to see the largest yellow vehicle on the road with flashing red lights and built-in stop signs. Stalvey said statewide there are more than 14,000 buses transporting students each day to and from school, and on average nearly 2,300 motorists disregard stop arms on an average school day.

"Not only is it alarming, it sets up the possibility of tragic consequences," the first sergeant said.

State law going into effect Dec. 1 has upped the ante on motorists who pass stopped school buses. The law, according to the SHP, changes the fine from a maximum of $200 to a minimum of $500 for drivers who pass a stopped school bus in misdemeanor cases not involving someone who has been hit. Drivers will lose their licenses in certain circumstances with the new law, Stalvey confirmed. The law requires a minimum $1,250 fine for the Class I felony offense when the defendant also strikes a person, and a minimum $2,500 fine for the Class H felony offense when striking a person results in a death.

The new law has been named in the memory of Forsyth County student Hasani Wesley, killed late last year at 11 years old by a motorist illegally passing a bus. The approved legislation also encourages school boards to use the proceeds of any fines for violations of passing stopped school buses to purchase automated camera and video recording systems to install on buses to help detect and prosecute violators.

Troopers in Davidson County followed 20 school buses during last year's Operation Stop Arm week from Oct. 15-19. This week, troopers in Davidson County have been driving marked and unmarked patrol cars during the operation. Troopers have again been told to follow school buses when they are not working accidents.

"There is no way you cannot see a stopped school bus, flashing lights and a stop arm displayed," Stalvey said "When you pass it, it's a willful, wanton disregard for the law. There is no excuse."

The vigilance from troopers regarding school buses doesn't stop Friday.

"All of the troopers know and have been instructed by me, if they are not on a call. … to patrol areas surrounding schools to make sure these kids get to school safely," the first sergeant said.

Stalvey added troopers are also keeping an eye on teenage drivers. "Automobile crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths not only in North Carolina but nationwide," he said. "By us being out there patrolling the roads and slowing them down, it helps them get to school safely."

In addition to the Highway Patrol's campaign, the Thomasville Police Department issued a news release this week regarding school bus safety. Through Tuesday, the TPD's Traffic Safety Unit in the month of October has written three citations for drivers passing a stopped school bus. The TPD news release stated these reminders for when not to pass a stopped school bus.

• Two-lane roadways: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.

• Two-lane roadway with a center turn lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.

• Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.

• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a center turning lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

<p>Friday marks the last day of a five-day campaign conducted by N.C. Highway Patrol troopers in Davidson County aimed at aggressively enforcing stop arm and other traffic violations in and around school zones.</p><p>Monday served as the opening day of the annual Operation Stop Arm week. The purpose of the campaign is to decrease violations and reduce school bus collisions, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Public Safety.</p><p>And in Davidson County the campaign has been successful, said B.D. Stalvey, the first sergeant assigned to SHP's Lexington office. Stalvey reported late Thursday morning it was his understanding there have been no reported stop arm violations this week.</p><p>Though statewide stats regarding the passing of stopped school buses are concerning to Stalvey, the first sergeant attributed this week's lack of stop arm violations to motorists being more attentive coupled with the Highway Patrol's campaign. Referring to school buses, he said it's not hard for people to see the largest yellow vehicle on the road with flashing red lights and built-in stop signs. Stalvey said statewide there are more than 14,000 buses transporting students each day to and from school, and on average nearly 2,300 motorists disregard stop arms on an average school day.</p><p>"Not only is it alarming, it sets up the possibility of tragic consequences," the first sergeant said.</p><p>State law going into effect Dec. 1 has upped the ante on motorists who pass stopped school buses. The law, according to the SHP, changes the fine from a maximum of $200 to a minimum of $500 for drivers who pass a stopped school bus in misdemeanor cases not involving someone who has been hit. Drivers will lose their licenses in certain circumstances with the new law, Stalvey confirmed. The law requires a minimum $1,250 fine for the Class I felony offense when the defendant also strikes a person, and a minimum $2,500 fine for the Class H felony offense when striking a person results in a death. </p><p>The new law has been named in the memory of Forsyth County student Hasani Wesley, killed late last year at 11 years old by a motorist illegally passing a bus. The approved legislation also encourages school boards to use the proceeds of any fines for violations of passing stopped school buses to purchase automated camera and video recording systems to install on buses to help detect and prosecute violators.</p><p>Troopers in Davidson County followed 20 school buses during last year's Operation Stop Arm week from Oct. 15-19. This week, troopers in Davidson County have been driving marked and unmarked patrol cars during the operation. Troopers have again been told to follow school buses when they are not working accidents.</p><p>"There is no way you cannot see a stopped school bus, flashing lights and a stop arm displayed," Stalvey said "When you pass it, it's a willful, wanton disregard for the law. There is no excuse."</p><p>The vigilance from troopers regarding school buses doesn't stop Friday.</p><p>"All of the troopers know and have been instructed by me, if they are not on a call. … to patrol areas surrounding schools to make sure these kids get to school safely," the first sergeant said. </p><p>Stalvey added troopers are also keeping an eye on teenage drivers. "Automobile crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths not only in North Carolina but nationwide," he said. "By us being out there patrolling the roads and slowing them down, it helps them get to school safely."</p><p>In addition to the Highway Patrol's campaign, the Thomasville Police Department issued a news release this week regarding school bus safety. Through Tuesday, the TPD's Traffic Safety Unit in the month of October has written three citations for drivers passing a stopped school bus. The TPD news release stated these reminders for when not to pass a stopped school bus.</p><p>• Two-lane roadways: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop. </p><p>• Two-lane roadway with a center turn lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.</p><p>• Four-lane roadway without a median separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.</p><p>• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a median separation: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.</p><p>• Divided highway of four lanes or more with a center turning lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.</p>